Not again!

I'm upset with myself, I really have to learn the word NO and be more assertive!

I got a phone call today, didn't recognize the # and was not going to answer but double guessed my instinct....

It was Uncle Troy.... His new son arrived today, 2 days ahead of the scheduled c-section. Mother and baby are doing great. Jacob, 6lbs 11oz.

... And then comes the true reason for the call.... Can you babysit the other 3(horrible, misbehaving, toy stealing, book destroying) children till Martha comes home..... ummmm NO!!!!! Well I wish I had said that no but instead I said the only day I can babysit is tomorrow... then he said he'll drop them off at 5am...(What!! 5am!! %$#@&) ... Fine see ya in the morning...

I'm going to tell Troy, he is going to look after the rabbits when we go away for a week in August! It's only fair... actually I think he'll be getting off light. Oh well.... Wish me luck, hopefully Mike won't come home to a blubbering fool, needing a nice long stay in the Mental ward...

Summer is too long!

I have never liked summer, I much prefer fall and spring!

The heat is too intense, the sun is way too bright, the day is too long and it is too long of a break from school!!

Who invented this season?!?!

Too many thoughts

My head has been buzzing with too many thoughts. Once again I am having trouble sleeping.

I initially started this blog so I could get things off my mind and lead a less stressful life, but I think I forgot how to do that recently.

Other than my husband, children and in-laws, I have no contact with my family. Why is this? Well, some I do not want to talk with, some I wish I could and others are lost in limbo. Why do some not call or visit me? Am I so unlikeable, have I chased away everyone?

I feel abandoned.

My girls are starting to forget, they mix up some relatives with others relations and friends. It's sad.

This all may sound dramatic, there are some family I see/talk/chat on a regular basis but most have grown very distance.

The one that hurts the most is my Mother, she is the one relation that reads this blog, I post the pictures for her, but she does not respond. I am the cause for much hurt but am I to be forgotten because of it? I am still here, I still love. I am hurting too.

Father's Day Weekend

For Father's Day Mike wanted to have a family camping trip, and his Mother has been wanting to go to the hot springs for several years now, so we planned a weekend trip to Nakusp Hot springs and Campground!

The weekend was filled with many emotional ups and downs for everyone, but for the most part it was wonderful.

Grandma P and Uncle F drove their 5th wheel to Nakusp early Friday morning. Then K&S came and got the girls in the afternoon and Mike and I were to follow 2 hours later but Mike ended up working late so we didn't leave our place till 6:30 pm. The trip took over 4 hours, so we were very late getting to the campground.

I took this shot on the drive up, we had stopped for a pit stop. The moon looked eerie glowing through the old burned trees.

Our camp spot.

The in-laws spot with ours in the background.

The family went for many walks along the hiking trails, for some reason they always left me behind to make the meals or to have naps (the girls didn't sleep well, so neither did I)

Mike, Klara, Ivy, Anna and the dogs posing by the old foundations of the first hot springs.

The girls enjoying the Hot springs pool.

Sister and Brother, K and F.

Anna waiting for something...

Ivy did really well in the pool, after a day she was starting to swim with very little help of the floats.

Anna's wait is over, her Grandma K came to help her.

A happy shot of Mike and I, our first in a long time...since our wedding day maybe...

On the drive home, Sunday, we stopped in Silverton at the Outdoor Mining Museum.

Mike loved all the old machines.

Ivy loved reading the pamphlet and teaching us about each machine.

Anna, K and puppy Molly exploring.

Ivy and me.

The drive home was fast and we all didn't want the weekend to end. Since then Ivy and Anna have been on and off sick with flu and head cold, then they past it along to their daddy who is still sick. Hopefully everyone will get healthy so we can go camping again.... but not with the in-laws.... at least for awhile!

Miss Smarty Pants!!

Yesterday was Awards day at Ivy school.

Mike, Anna and I went to cheer on Ivy and her classmates, we knew everyone would get an award and we're curious what Ivy's would be.

The Teacher, Miss S, gave out awards for best story teller, neatest printer, most helpful, and other "nice" awards but Ivy didn't get anythings.... Next came the awards for best math, reading and Art etc and still Ivy did not get anything... we were getting worried.

Then came the last and Highest award for her grade, Top Academic Achievement and Ivy Won it!!!!!

Here is Ivy with Miss S. and Principal T.

Ivy sitting with some classmates, waiting for the awards to begin.


During the year we record what books the kids are read or read themselves and if they get over 100 books then they get a reading club T-shirt. Ivy got one, as most of her class did.

And the top 5 readers got an extra gift of a goody bag full of books! Ivy was one of these 5 with 285 books! Her friend Jacob got tops with 530+!!

I was also recognized for all my volunteer work through out the year: being on PAC, hot lunches, and running the snack shack. The kids all signed a big card and I got a gift voucher for a local store!

Cousin Sylvia found her way through all the parents to come sit with us, She was excited to tell us she was coming to this school next year... we already knew this, as she will be in Anna's class.

A finally shot of Ivy and Miss S. I really hope she keeps her position as K/1 teacher for next year, Anna will benefit from being her student!

And now we wait through the summer and prepare ourselves for having 2 school age kids, Kindergarten and Grade 2!!

Baseball Vent

I'm upset for my daughter, Ivy. The baseball season was such a let down for her. To only have played one regular game all season and then only game at the tournament really sucks!

Because one town/team didn't have enough members it left big gaps in the schedule for Saturday's tournament, and on the schedule it stated it was up to the coaches if these gaps stayed or if times were moved up. I asked our coach, Nicole, if we could ask the other team but all she did was ask our last year coach if we should and they both decided not to ask... I was irked but it was not my place to push.

So, our first game ended at 11am and the next was scheduled for 1pm, I double checked with Nicole and she confirmed. Our family then went to Mike's Grandma's for lunch instead of eating out at the concession. Did I mention the Mike's whole family came to watch Ivy play ball... After lunch, 12:30pm we went back to the ballpark to find it almost empty! My friend said they had just finished playing...What!?! Not 5 minutes after we had left the other teams coach came and asked if they could play now instead of 1pm. I was so upset at our coach for not asking earlier. So our WHOLE family was disappointed.

One Mother did try to get a hold of us but not the coach, The coach's husband came over to let us know what happened but he didn't apologise to Ivy. I am mostly pissed at Nicole for not owning up to her folly and for sending her husband in her place. Even this morning at the bus stop another father came and explained what happened and HE at least said sorry to Ivy.

Saturday at the ball field, Ivy didn't seem to care that there was no other game, even the car ride home she was indifferent but when we got home she had a melt down. She cried and cried and wanted to know why! I felt so bad for her. I wonder if it took the 20 min for it to sink in or whether she just held it in till she was home either way she was hurt by the whole thing. She didn't miss a practice, she wanted to play so badly. I didn't know how to explain it to her other than this was just one of life's disappointments that we have no control of (people/weather/illness), sometimes people let you down.

I couldn't stay home after that and I had to make her happy so I convinced Mike to hook up the trailer and we went camping over night, did us all good to get away for abit.

Hopefully Ivy will still be in a good mood when she comes home from school.

May Camping

Before I get to the camping photos I want to share a cute little story of my girls.

The other night the girls were in quite the mood, constantly bickering and screaming. Mike and I were so upset that we sent the girls to bed without their bedtime story. Ivy was very upset and cried for a long time, she loves her stories. About 30 mins later Ivy comes out of her room asking to sleep in our bed, as she didn't want to stay in her bed. Mike told her no. She then asked to sleep on the sofa, again Mike said no because I was in the living room. She then asked to sleep with Anna...We were shocked, with all their fighting she would want to be that close to her sister. Mike said it would be ok as long as Anna allowed it and, again to our amazement, Anna mumbled yes (she was half asleep) and made room for her big sister. An hour later I took this picture, they slept that way all night long! I am still in shock.

Camping! Yes, I love camping with our trailer, we are still getting used to it but it's getting better. Here are some random shots of our overnight trip up Bull Lake.

The weekend after we spent 2 nights at Marshal lake. The weather was horrible: windy, cold, snow, hail, and frost. But the last morning was super sunny and warm, made it all worth it. Someone and made a raft that was tied to land with 50 foot rope, Mike was brave enough to try it out, and soon after Ivy joined him (with life jacket!) to try some fishing.

Ivy really enjoyed herself, sadly no fish were caught. Anna was so worried about them being on the raft, most of the time she was pulling them in with the rope.

As evening was drawing in we left the raft behind and walked around the lake, Mike the girls would cast their lines in hope of catching a fish. After awhile, Ivy and I grew tired and walked back to camp. When we were across the lake from the others we heard Anna scream out with excitement.

Ivy and I knew she caught something!

And soon after a very proud Dad and daughter came back with this little trout.

Anna was happy but a little worried because it was still flopping about.

Ivy was not jealous, which surprised me, she was happy for her sister and glad someone had caught something.

The next night back at home Mike fried up the trout for Anna.

She enjoyed it alot! (I was surprised again!) And she even shared with her sis which made Mike and I so happy.